Soap Vet Claims Sexism In Daytime Emmy Debacle

Jennifer Bassey, best known to daytime fans as Marian Colby on All My Children, has found herself in the middle of the recent Daytime Emmy controversy.

The revered actress is speaking out now and she wants the award she feels she deserves.

It all started when another longtime soap veteran, Patrika Darbo was informed, that her Daytime Emmy for Guest Performer in a Digital Daytime Drama was revoked after it came to light that her show, The Bay, submitted her in the wrong category.

Reportedly, Bassey, who had received the next highest number of votes for her role as Beverly in web series Anacostia, was told by NATAS that she’d be receiving the award. Later, she was told that there would be no winner in the category.

Now, the actress is speaking out, demanding that she be given the Daytime Emmy she feels is rightfully hers.

Her statement reads as follows:

“I would like to thank Patrika Darbo [Mickey, The Bay] for setting the record straight. As she noted, I was awarded the Daytime Emmy because Patrika was submitted in the wrong category — and then it was taken away by the Academy several days later due to my producer of ‘Anacostia’ unintentionally breaking the rules with my submission as well.

“However, [The Bay’s] Eric Nelson’s [sic] producers also unintentionally broke the rules with his submission, yet he gets to keep his Daytime Emmy and I don’t get to keep mine. Is this fair or gender bias?

Either his Emmy should also be revoked or I should receive mine. So, #TimesUp, Academy. Give me Daytime Emmy.”

Soap Opera Digest posted a statement (see next paragraph) from The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, which oversees the awards, noting that the reason nobody in Darbo and Bassey’s category received a trophy is because the violations were different from ones that “may or may not” have occurred in other categories.

“All individuals were subject to the same standards regarding each rule. In the case of the prior appearance rule, all those found in violation were disqualified.

“However, in the case of the episode count rule, NATAS opted not to overrule the judges’ decisions, given the rule’s ambiguous guidance, the reasonable disagreement over its terms, and the rule’s planned elimination from future competition.

“Those found to be potentially in violation of the rule were permitted to keep their awards or nominations. NATAS determined it would not be appropriate to elevate these entrants by presenting new awards in these categories. No additional winners were officially announced by NATAS.”